Vaporizing burner with distributor block



y 1963 E. F. FEILBACH 35088514 VAPORIZING BURNER WITH DISTRIBUTOR BLOCKFiled July 28, 1959 INVENTOR. EARL F. FEILBACH A rog/v5 7 United StatesPatent 3,088,514 VAPORIZIWG BURNER WITH DISTRIBUTQR BLOCK Earl FredrickFeilbach, Broadway, Washington Township, NJ. Filed July 28, 1959, Ser.No. 830,084 1 Claim. (Cl. 158-53) This invention relates to liquidburners, and more particularly, to vaporizing burners which useliquefied butane or propane gas.

Burners utilizing butane, propane and other types of liquid fuel whichare readily vaporized into gas, are well known. In these types ofburners, the liquid fuel is generally stored in suitable pressurizedtanks. During operation, the liquid fuel is vaporized into a combustiblegas by applying heat. The heat and continued vaporization of the liquidfuel is maintained by the combustion of the vaporized gas by a flamedischarged from the nozzle of the burner.

A very high degree of constant heat is required in many applicationsusing butane or propane gas burners. For example, one such applicationis in connection with heating kettles which are used for melting tar,asphalt or the like for highway maintenance, paving, roofing andwaterproof operations. In these, as well as other applications, aprojecting flame and heated gases are directed into an immersed meltingmember embodying a longitudinally extending flue near the bottom of thekettle and extending from end to end. The heating flue is designed to betotally immersed in the molten material, with the burner being providedin connection therewith for introducing the flame for heating. Theconfiguration of the burner is often of an odd size or shape and must bedesigned to accommodate a particular type kettle or other containerholding the material to be heated. In designing such burners, it isoften necessary to have both the liquid and the vaporized gas travelrelatively long distances through conduits or pipes.

An undesirable feature found in many burners used heretofore is the poordegree of control of the flow of the gas into the burner nozzle. Amongthe reasons for this poor cont-r01 in many cases is that the nozzle ofthe burner has been directly connected to a large enclosure or conduitwith the vaporized gas passing into a large enclosure or conduit from arelatively small enclosure or conduit through a manipulatable valve.With the vaporized gas passing from a relatively small conduit to alarge conduit, a fine degree of control of the flow of gas to the burnernozzle was not practical.

It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid gas burner havingan improved means for controlling the flow of gas to the burner nozzle.

In some types of burners used heretofore, the vaporizing chamber of theburner surrounded the projecting flame and in effect actually becamepart of the combustion chamber. This arrangement often resulted inburnout of the vaporizing chamber due to carbonization of the liquidfuel in the chamber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved gasburner using liquid fuel in which the likelihood of burnout of thevaporizing chamber due to carbonization of the liquid fuel is minimized.

In many types of burners of odd sizes and shapes, especially those usinglong conduits or handles, the actual assembly of the burner duringmanufacture is often a problem. For example, the conduits must often bewelded to various distributor blocks and other elements associated withthe burner. Often the conduits must be surrounded by a long protectivehandle. In some cases,

the handle has also served as one of the conduits for the burner.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improvedliquid gas burner in which the assembly of the burner is facilitated.

Many different types of jobs require different amounts of heat. In suchcases, it is desirable to have a universal type burner adaptable to usecombustion chambers of various sizes.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improvedstandard type liquid burner adapted to provide combustion chambers ofdifferent sizes.

In accordance with the present invention, a butane or propane liquidfuel burner includes a tapered shape vaporizing chamber connected to asource of liquid fuel. A nozzle is disposed to project a flame adjacentthe vaporizing chamber to heat the liquid fuel to transform it into acombustible gas. An adjustable valve controls the gas flow from aconduit of relatively large area to a conduit of relatively small area,with the latter conduit being connected to the nozzle of the burner. Theconduit of relatively large area serves as a handle for the burner aswell as a heat exchanger. A combustion chamber is adapted to bedetachably mounted to the vaporizing chamber and may be of varioussizes. The entire arrangement of the burner is designed to facilitateeasy assembly of the various parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentand such suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, from a readingof the following specification and claim in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in cross section and partlybroken away, of a burner illustrating one form of the present invention,and

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along lines 22 of FIG- URE 1.

Referring to the drawing, a burner 10 includes a distributor block 12connected to a source of liquid fuel (not shown) and a block 14connected together by various conduits, as will be described.

A cylindrical member 16 is welded or otherwise suitably attached to theblock 14. An inner cylindrical member 18, of irregular shape, isattached to the block 14 and to the cylindrical member 16 to form avaporizing chamber 26. The vaporizing chamber 26 is dimensioned to thesize of apertures in the block 14 at one end and gradually becomingwider in dimensions towards its center. As the vaporizing chamberfurther extends away from the block 14, it becomes narrower and tapersto a I. point where it is attached to the cylindrical member 16.

The irregular shape of the vaporizing chamber 26 formed by thecylindrical member 16 and the member 18 provides various advantagesduring burner operation, as will be described.

During burner operation, the liquid fuel passes through an opening 20 inthe distributor block 12, through a conduit 22, through an opening 24 inthe block 14 and into the vaporizing chamber 26. The conduit 22 may be along tubular element welded or otherwise suitably attached to thedistributor block 12 and the member or block 14.

x? ized into a combustible gas.

3 nected between the distributor block 12 and the block 14. As shown,the slip connector 36 is welded to the tubing 34. The particulararrangement of the tubing 34 and the slip connector 36 facilitates theassembly of the burner, as will be described.

The gas from the chamber 32 then passes through an opening 38 in thedistributor block 12 to an adjustable valve 40. The valve 40 may be setto various positions to control the amout of gas flowing from theopening 38 to a. conduit 42. The conduit 42 is suitably attached to thedistributor block 12 and the block 14 and provides means fortransferring the gas from the valve 40 to an opening 44 in the block 14which leads to the nozzle 28.

The block 14 includes a number of apertures 46 to permit air to passthrough the block 14 to support the combustion of the gas during burneroperation. While these apertures are shown as circular, as they would beif they were drilled, it is obvious that one or any number of openingsof different sizes may be employed.

A cylindrical member 48 is detachably mounted to the member 16. Themember 16 includes a ring 52 rigidly welded to its outer peripheryhaving openings to permit screws 52 to pass therethrough. The member,numbered 48, forming the combustion chamber for the burner, includes aring 54 welded to its inner periphery. The ring 54 includes tappedopenings which are adapted to receive the screws 52 to hold the member48 attached to the member 16.

In operation, the burner 10 may be considered as including threeconduits. The first conduit includes the tubing 22 which leads theliquid fuel to the vaporizing chamber 26. The second conduit includesthe tubing 34 which leads the gas from the vaporizing chamber to thecontrol valve 40. The third conduit includes the tubing 42 which leadsthe gas from the control valve 40 to the nozzle 28. A single controlvalve is preferred in the present invention to eliminate any hazard ofdisconnecting the burner with the main fuel supply on.

It is noted that an important feature of the present invention is thatthe conduit leading from the vaporizing chamber to the control valve isrelatively large. This arrangement assures adequate area to permit fullexpansion of the gas after the liquid fuel has been vaporized. Thetendency of the fuel to remain in its liquid state to cause faultyburner operation is thereby minimized.

The relatively large heat exchange area provided by the tubing 34 alsomakes it possible to provide micrometer adjustment of the control valve40 in controlling the amount of gas into the burner nozzle. Because thegas flows from a relatively large area 32 into a relatively small areaof the tubing 42, this fine degree of control of gas flow is possible.In some of the burners used heretofore, the flow of gas was from a smallto a large area, making it impractical to provide adequate control ofthe gas fiow. It is noted that the tubing 34 may also serve as thehandle for the burner. The tubing 34 may be considered as the mainmember.

The irregular shape of the vaporizing chamber 26 formed by the members16 and 18 help to prevent burnout resulting from carbonization of theliquid fuel Within the vaporizing chamber. The member 18 is tapered asit extends away from the block 14. This arrangement keeps the vaporizingchamber substantially out of the path of a projecting flame from thenozzle 28. Heretofore in many cases, the flame from the nozzle waswithin the vaporizing chamber area and often caused carbonization andburnout of the vaporizing chamber assoa problem. The arrangement of thetubing 34 and slip connector 36 in the present invention helps tominimize this problem. In assembling the burner shown, the tubing 34 andconnector 36 may be held loosely surrounding the inner conduits ortubings 22 and 42 while these conduits are welded to the blocks 12 and14. The freedom of movement of the tubing 36 up or down makes thispossible. After the tubings 22 and 42 are welded in place, the top ofthe tubing 34 may be welded to the block 12 and the bottom of the slipconnector may be welded to the block 14. The slip connector 36 may thenbe welded to the tubing 34.

Various other features facilitate the manufacture and assembly of theburner shown. Spacer rings to provide openings, such as 24 and 30, arenot necessary because the openings may be drilled with the exteriors ofthe openings being plugged or welded, as illustrated by a weldconnection 56. The all welded construction of the burner showneliminates the need for field adjustments as the burner is actually asealed unit. The use of weld connections after drilling helps to avoidmechanical closing after drilling and minimizes the danger of hazardousgas leaks due to heat or thread burnout.

The arrangement involving the connection of the cylindrical member 48makes it possible to provide combustion chambers of various sizes withthe same basic burner. Thus a standard burner may be used and adapted tojobs requiring different size combustion chambers.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications tothe embodiment shown may be employed without departing from the scope ofthe present invention. For example, the main portion of the burnerincluding the member 16 and the member 48 are shown in direct line withthe conduits. These members may be at right angles with respect to eachother, or any other desired angle, with respect to the conduits. Variousdifferent means may be employed to connect the member 48 to the member16.

What is claimed is:

A burner comprising a block member having apertures therein to permitthe passage of air therethrough, a vaporizing chamber connected to saidblock member, a first conduit for connecting a source of liquid fuel tosaid vaporizing chamber through said block member, a nozzle centrallydisposed on said block member and extending towards said vaporizingchamber for projecting a flame to heat said liquid fuel to transformsaid liquid fuel into a combustible gas, said vaporizing chamber beingtapered to be out of the direct path of said projecting fiame, adistributor block, an adjustable valve for controlling gas flow includedin said distributor block, a second conduit of relatively large area forconducting said combustible gas from said vaporizing chamber to saidvalve, a third conduit of relatively small area with respect to saidsecond conduit for conducting said combustible gas from said valve tosaid nozzle, a slip connector, said second conduit including a main tubemember connected to said slip connector, said second conduit and saidslip connector surrounding said first and third conduits, the main tubemember being connected to said distributor block and the slip connectorbeing connected to said block member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,460,630 Wiederwax July 3, 1923 1,702,731 Hymer Feb. 19, 1929 2,855,987Sehylander Oct. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 189,094 Switzerland Apr. 16,1937

